AMD/Intel Hybrid Graphics works

If you do want to make the switch possible between your Intel and your AMD graphics cards, then this post is for you. If you do not own a AMD hybrid graphic card, please leave this thread, and post your problems in a thread made for AMD single graphic or Intel single graphic.

Edit: The solution seems not to work with ATI 5xxx graphic cards, try at your own risk.
Warning: Works only for muxless systems.
Warning 2: Check if your BIOS is updated, if not update it ! (You will need Windows). This is your computer manufacturer that "implements the switch on your mother card, and modify the video drivers for Windows to work on your computer". If an AMD 6630m (for example) works on a HP computer, this doesn't mean the same video card will work for sure (for example) on a ASUS computer.

Edit bodhi.zazen: Best check hardware compatibility before following this tutorial. If your hardware is not listed as supported, this tutorial will not help you. See http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Hardware

The following solution has been tested on a DELL Vostro 3550, with an AMD 6630m card and an Intel HD 3000 (Sandybridge) card (integrated into a Intel core i5). The version of Ubuntu used is 12.04 LTS (further versions should works too). The system is very stable, and everything works well.
This tutorial requires the use of the terminal, but still is simple if you're a beginner, you will just have to past some commands on it and press "Enter".(Tip for beginners : to past a command on a terminal, just press CTRL+SHIFT+V, it is the same shorcut as usual just don't forget to press SHIFT when pasting).

Before beginning this tutorial, we will suppose you are following it on a fresh install (i.e. You did not install vgaswitchroo or flgrx (via jockey-gtk : The proprietary driver installer application from Ubuntu). Please also install all updates available for your computer before starting (and reboot if you're proposed to).
STEP 1 - Installing latest AMD catalyst drivers :

Then reboot again your computer.STEP 2 - Enabling, fixing the bug for direct rendering on the integrated card :Thanks to Niccola for finding the actual fix.

If you ever apply an fglrx update, or your system automatically update fglrx, YOU WILL HAVE to repeat STEP 2, otherwise direct rendering will be missing on integrated gpu (i.e. No Unity 3D or Gnome Shell or Gnome Classic + Compiz on the Intel graphic). If you have an other solution (like loading a script on startup) please post it.

Open the /etc/X11/Xsession.d/10fglrx file with root rights :

Code:

gksu gedit /etc/X11/Xsession.d/10fglrx

If you're using a 32bits system add at the end of 4th line this text : "/usr/lib32/dri/" without the quotes. The file should now look like this :

Reboot your computer to see the changes, it should boot up with the discrete card.

Useful informations, commands :

Power consumption is a lot better now, it seems that my battery last 4 times more with the integrated card, but this isn't still good as in Windows. If someone find or know tricks to decrease power consumption a little more please post it !

I do not recommend to update the catalyst driver once it's installed (if it works), if you really want to upgrade then check this page to find instructions : http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu

The AMD driver GUI application doesn't provide settings for screen configuration, but only 3d settings. This is a missing feature.

If you want to add your computer, please do want it (this will help other users), make a post and indicate your configuration like those above. I will then add it to the working list.I repeat as many people do not get it : "like those above" ! It take you two minutes to write it, this saves me time, and I can update more frequently this thread. Also posts like "It works on HP Pavilion dm4" are USELESS, I won't add a computer with an incomplete computer model number. Exception for computers without a precise model name (example : DELL Vostro 3550, Lenovo e520).

Re: AMD/Intel Hybrid Graphics works !

Originally Posted by Sda1986

Hi, can I ask how many Watts are you saving with this? thanks!

I didn't test this for the moment, I will do it when the PPA will be ready.
A thing is obvious it can't be worse than without fglrx and sna because by default the kernel gives power to the two cards but only the Intel one can be used by Xorg.

Re: AMD/Intel Hybrid Graphics works !

I have been trying, 4 hours this afternoon to make it work, but sadly xserver-xorg-video-intel version 2.15.901 doesn't work with the latest Catalyst 12.1. Intel's driver 2.17 version works but needs a more recent Xorg version to be installed or compiled.
I think we will have to wait the release of Ubuntu 12.04 to have a compatible and stable Xorg version.

Although if you are impatient there is a way to install the latest Xorg version on Ubuntu 11.10 by adding those ppas but there are considered as unstable: